Under the patronage of the Dean of the College of Science for Women, Professor Dr. Sameera Naji Khdim, the Department of Biology , in collaboration with the Continuing Education Unit, organized a workshop entitled “Do Plants Have Feelings?” The session was presented by Dr. Mushtaq Faraj Karoumi, Ms. Ghusoon Saeb Saleh, and Ms. Zeinab Anwar Ali.
The workshop aimed to shed light on the significance of the interaction between fundamental sciences and practical applications. It addressed a controversial topic in the field of biology concerning the ability of plants to respond to environmental stimuli in ways that may suggest a form of perception or conscious behavior.
Scientific experiments were reviewed during the session, indicating that plants can communicate with their surroundings through chemical and electrical signals. It was also highlighted that some plants exhibit defensive behaviors when exposed to threats, raising new questions about the boundaries between biological awareness and mechanical response.
The workshop included scientific discussions in which students and researchers actively participated, posing profound questions about the nature of consciousness in non-sentient organisms. The organizers emphasized that the purpose of this event was to foster critical scientific thinking and encourage students to explore the hidden aspects of plant biology.
